Tariffs, Steel, and Trump’s Big Economic Play: Did It Actually Work?

(And Why You Should Care Even If You’re Into Bitcoin)

Photo by History in HD on Unsplash

Let’s cut the fluff and get straight into the core question that’s been floating around in econ-nerd Twitter, dinner table debates, and think-tank papers:

Did Trump’s tariff plan actually work?

You remember the headlines. Steel tariffs. Aluminum tariffs. Cars made abroad suddenly slapped with an extra 25%. It was all under the big, bold banner: “Make America Great Again.” But now, years later — and with cold, hard data in our hands — we’re ready to ask the real question:

Was this strategy genius, or just geopolitical chest-beating?

But before we dive deep, let’s zoom out for context — and then bring it all together with some juicy charts.

Why Tariffs in the First Place?

Trump’s team argued this was all about protecting U.S. industry. The logic was simple:

• Foreign producers (especially China) were undercutting U.S. prices.
• This weakened American industries.
• Tariffs would make imports more expensive, giving local businesses room to breathe, rebuild, and thrive.